Sand throwing machine



J1me 1965 R. w. ELLMS' ET AL- 3,187,392

SAND THROWING MACHINE Filed Feb. 6, 1962 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTORS ROBERT W. ELLMS 8c WALTER L. THOMPSON ATTORNEYS June 8, 1965 R. w. ELLMS ET AL 3,187,392

SAND THROWING MACHINE Filed Feb. 6, 1962 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG 8 9 m- 46 n4 I5 :05 19 [7 2J4' "(Q!!!!(!l I I (@(Q I I I 2 103 6 I i FIGZ 3 INVENTORS ROBERT W. ELLMS 8 BY WALTER L. THOMPSON ATTORNEYS June 8, 1965 R. w. ELLMS ETAL I 3,187,392

SAND THROWING MACHINE 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Feb. 6, 1962 INVENTORS ROBERT w ELLMS a BY WALTER L. THOMPSON mumm ATToRNEYs June 8, 1965 R. w. ELLMS ETAL 3,187,392

I SAND THROWING MACHINE Filed Feb. 6, 1962 s Sheets-Sheet 4 FIG5 INVENTORS ROBERT W. ELLMS 8 BY WALTER L. THOMPSON ATTORNEYS June 8, 1965 R. w. ELLMS ETAL 3,187,392

SAND T;HROWING MACHINE Filed Feb. 6, 1962 6 SheetsSheet 5 INVENTORS ROBERT w. ELLMS a BY WAlJ'ER 1.. THOMPSON obmmmak wmw ATTORNEYS June 8, 1965 R. w. ELLMS, ET AL 3,187,392

SAND THROWING MACHINE Filed Feb. 6, 1962 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 IN VEN TORS ROBERT W. ELLMS 8 BY WALTER L. THOMPSON ATTORNEYS United States. Patent.

Ohio

Filed Feb. 6, 1962, Ser. No. 171,389 15 Claims. (Cl. 22-66) This invention relates generally, as indicated, to a sand throwing machine and more particularly to a machine employed to ram or sling sand into a Wide variety of flask sizes by the projection method to form sand molds.

The present invention relates to certain improvements in such machine wherein sand is fed by belts to a rotary head which carries a bucket or blade on its moving portion which is powered by a large motor. Such bucket or blade-like member takes a volume of sand from the discharge end of a belt conveyor and accelerates it to a very high velocity to ram or sling such sand downwardly onto a pattern within a flask with such force as to ram completely the mold by such action, as well as to fill the flask. No further action except strike off and draw is required to make a mold. However, a skilled operator is required properly to manipulate the head thus to ram and fill a flask. The length of time that it takes to fill a flask depends upon the size of the flask, the speed of the sand delivery, and, of course, the skill of the operator.

It is accordingly a principal object of the present invention to provide such a machine which can easily and quickly be controlled from a compact remote control console which will enhance the skill of the operator.

It is another main object to provide such a machine which can quickly and easily be converted from such remote control to a manual operation and vice versa.

A further object is the provision of such machine which can readily be assembled and disassembled in a simplified manner to reduce the amount of down time required for repairs and servicing.

Yet another object is the provision of a simplified and compact control console easing and simplifying the operation of the machine.

A yet further object is the provision of a unitary head assembly for such machine which can be preassembled for easy placement on the machine.

Still another object is the provision of a simplified control enabling the head of the machine to be positioned properly horizontally by but a single lever. 7

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent as the'following description proceeds.

To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, the invention, then, comprises the features hereinafter fully described and particularly pointed out in the claims, the following description and the annexed drawings setting forth in detail a certain illustrative embodiment of the invention, this being indicative, however, of but one of the various Ways in which the principle of the invention may be employed.

In said annexed drawings:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation of a machine in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary longitudinal section of the head of the machine taken substantially on the line 2-2 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 3 is a transverse section taken substantially on the line 33 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary section of the pedestal supporting such machine;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of the thrower drive motor and support therefor;

FIG. 6 is a horizontal section taken substantially on the line 66 of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a transverse section of the control console taken substantially on the line 77 of FIG. 9;

FIG. 8 is a top plan view of such console with the upper plate removed partially broken away and in section;

FIG. 9 is a vertical section of such control console taken substantially on the line 9-9 of FIG. 7;

FIG. 10 is a schematic wiring diagram of the motor controls for the present invention; and

FIG. 11 is a schematic hydraulic circuit diagram of the operation of the hydraulic components of the present invention.

General arrangement Referring now to the annexed drawings and more particularly to FIG. 1, it will be seen that the sand throwing machine of the present invention comprises a base or pedestal 1 which may be bolted or otherwise suitably rigidly secured to the floor 2 through a bed plate 3. The pedestal 1 supports a jib or boom 5 in turn supporting a ram or' secondary arm 6 at its distal end for swinging movement about a vertically extending axis indicated generally at 7. At the distal end of the ram arm 6, there is provided a projection head 8 which comprises a bucket or blade 9 (note FIG. 2) rota-ting within housing 10. The bottom of the housing is provided with an opening 0 having a central baflle 12. The blade is mounted for rotation on annular member 13 which is secured as by the bolts 14 to nose member 15 firmly fastened on the end of drive shaft 16 by the nut 17. The drive shaft 16 passes through cylindrical or tubular housing 19 and is driven by a relatively large motor 20, the drive shaft 21 of which is engaged with the relatively long shaft 16 by means of a Falk or other suitable flexible piloted coupling 22. (NoteFIG. 5.)

The tubular housing 19 flares outwardly as indicated at 24 in FIG. 5 and is joined to annular flange 25' which is in turn fastened by bolts or the like 26 to housing 27. Such housing also flares outwardly as indicated at 28 and is provided with a motor mounting flange 29 to which is removably secured the flange 30 of the motor 26 by the fastening means 31.

The blade or cup 9 driven by the motor 20 may be termed a sand projector and for convenience, the motor 20 may be termed a ram motor in that the sand conveyed to the projector will be rammed within a flask or flasks positioned beneath the head 9 to receive sand projected through the opening. 0. v e

The motor 20 is provided with a top support platform 33 on which is secured a motor 34; the drive pulley 35 of which has V-belts 36 trained thereabout driving the roll shaft 37 of the belt conveyor indicated generally at 4%. Such belt conveyor is firmly mounted on the ram arm 6 by means of brackets shown at 41 and 42 and comprises a belt 44 trained about a driven roll atthe drive end thereof and an idler roll 45 at the discharge end thereof. The idler roll 45' may be adjusted by means of the adjusting screw mechanism 46 shown in FIG. 2 to control the tension of the belt. The conveyor frame includes side guides indicated generally at 47 in FIG. 1 and a sand receiving hopper shown at 48. The motor 34 then drives the belt 44 to transport the sand from the hopper 48' into the cup or blade 9 in the head 8 to be thrown or projected downwardly out the opening 0 into a flask and pattern assembly positioned therebeneath. The head 8 is provided with a flared hood 50 receiving the discharge end of the belt and the sand thereon. Since the conveyor 49 is rigidly mounted on the, arm 6, it is apparent that the hopper 48 will always be positioned enemas q C3 above the pivot axis 7 for the arm provided at the distal end of the jib 5.

A further sand conveyor 52 is supported on the jib by support rods 53 or the like. Such support rods extend upwardly and outwardly to be joined pivotally with the side frames 54 of the conveyor 52 as indicated at 55. Such conveyor 52 comprises a belt 56 trained about an idler pulley 57 at the discharge end of the conveyor and a drive pulley 58 at the drive end of the conveyor. Such drive pulley is driven by V-velts 59 from the drive sheave 69 of conveyor drive motor 61. Such motor is mounted on a platform 62 supported by bracket 63 on the top of the cylindrical revolving sleeve 64 on the pedestal 1 on which the jib 5 is mounted. The drive pulley 58 is mounted on pillow blocks or the like on top of inclined pedestal 65 on sleeve 64. At the drive end of the conveyor 52 there is provided a sand receiving hopper 68 which, like the hopper 48 with respect to the pivot axis 7, is positioned over the pivot axis 69 of the jib 5. Sand may be fed to the conveyor 52 by an overhead conveying system with the discharge of such system being fixed over the axis 69.

The discharge end of the conveyor 52 is provided with a deflector gate 71 pivoted to the conveyor frame at 72 which deflects the sand being discharged from the conveyor 52 downwardly into the hopper 48 of the conveyor 40 on the ram arm 6. The gate can then swivel about the pivot 72 through a considerable angle as shown by the phantom line position 73 wherein it will engage a stop 74 and such gate carries a magnet 75 for the magnetic separation of tramp-iron from the stream of sand being sent from the conveyor 56 to the conveyor 46.

The jib 5 is comprised of two sections, with the outer section 77 being pivoted at 78 to one corner of a parallelogram linkage shown generally at 79. Such parallelogram linkage comprises a pair of arms 86 extending parallel to a similar pair of arms 81, both of which are pivoted to the rotating upstanding sleeve 64 mounted on the pedestal 1 as indicated at 82 and 83, respectively. The outer ends of such arms are interconnected by a pair of links 84 extending from the pivot 78 which interconnects the outer section 77 and the bottom pair of links 81 to the pivot 85 at the end of the upper pair of arms A pair of tension support members 36 extend from the pivot 85 at the top of the links 84 to the support ears 87 secured to the frame 88 at the outer end of the jib distal section 77. The conveyor support members 53 are connected directly to the jib section 77.

A piston-cylinder assembly or motor 90 is pivoted to a pair of brackets 91 secured to the rotating sleeve 64 as indicated at 92 and the rod 93 of such piston-cylinder assembly is pivoted at 94 approximately to the mid portions of the upper links or arms 86. Accordingly, extension of the rod 93 will pivot the arms 80 and 81 upwardly about the pivots 82 and 83 while the links 84 remain in a vertical position. In this manner, the outer or distal end portion 77 of the jib 5 will always be in a horizontal position supporting the ram arm 6 always for swinging movement about the vertically maintained axis 7. As the rod 93 is extended and the jib section 77 is elevated, the pivotal connection between the conveyor support 53 and the conveyor frame as indicated at 55 permits the conveyor 52 to be elevated about the axis 96 of the belt drive roll 58 so that the discharge end of the conveyor will always be properly above the hopper 48 of the conveyor 40. In the illustrated embodiment, the head then may be adjustable in height from approximately 2'9" above the floor 2 to as much as 6'4 above Machines of the type above-described and shown more clearly in FIG. 1 comprising articulated arms mounted on a pedestal and the respective sand conveyors transporting the sand to the rotating slinger or head at the end of the distal arm are generally conventional. Reference may be had, for example, to US. Patents Nos.

1 2,368,116 and 1,309,833 for disclosures of examples of such machines.

Head

Referring now particularly to FIGS. 2 and 3, and especially to FIG. 2, it will be seen that the tubular housing 19 of ram arm 6 terminates in an enlarged tubular portion 100 having a plate 101 secured to the end thereof as by the welding shown. The plate 101 coopeates with a plate 182 on the housing 111 to serve as a suitable locating stop. A non-rotating head sleeve 103 is provided with a pair of external shoulders 104 and 105 cooperating with similar internal shoulders on the distal sleeve member 109. The end of the head sleeve 163 also contacts the internal shoulder 186 on the member 1%. The head which is mounted on the sleeve 103 can then readily be inserted into the end of the ram arm over the end of the long shaft 16 to be secured thereto by the nut 17. Set screws 107 and 183 may be employed properly to lock the sleeve 103 within the end of the ram arm housing. The rotating impeller or projector member 13 is mounted on the sleeve by a dual row ball bearing 11% and a single row somewhat larger ball bearing 111. Eaiile seal members indicated generally at 112 on the projector member 13 and the sleeve 163 respectively serve to preclude the entry of dirt into the bearings and 111. Since the nose piece 15 of the head is secured to the projector member 13 by the bolts 14 or the like, it can readily be seen that the entire head including the housing 10 can be preassembled as a unit and quickly inserted into the end of the housing of the ram arm 6. In this manner, preassembled heads can be kept in inventory quickly to replace heads for cleaning or repairs, etc. The housing 10 includes an end cover plate 114 which is mounted upon hinges so that the end of the slinger head can readily be opened for inspection and cleaning purposes. A slot and key drive connection is provided at 115 between the nose piece 15 of the head and the tapered end 116 of the shaft 16 so that rotation of the shaft 16 by the motor 20 will drive the cup or blade 9 properly to sling or throw the sand downwardly through the opening 0.

Arm-jib joint It can now be seen that the two arms are articulated at the pivot axis 7 and referring now to FIGS. 5 and 6, it will be seen that the arm 6 may be pivoted in a horizontal plane about the axis 7 provided at the distal end of the jib 5. Such swinging movement may be obtained by a rotary torque actuator 120 such as a conventional vanetype hydraulic motor. Such actuator may be mounted inside the frame 88 and bolted through flange 121 to the top plate 122 thereof as indicated at 123. The rotary torque actuator 128 comprises a cylindrical chamber having a vane 124 therein mounted on a drive shaft 125. Such drive shaft 125 projects upwardly through opening 126 in the frame plate 122 into a cylindrical bearing retainer sleeve 127 provided with flange 128 bolted to the frame top plate 122 as shown at 129. A hearing housing 131) is secured to the underside of plate 131 which is in turn secured to the bottom of the housing 27. Between the sleeve 127 and the housing there is provided two tapered roller bearings shown at 133 and 134 which support the ram arm 6 for rotation on the frame 88 about the vertically extending axis 7. A lock nut 136 threaded on the sleeve 127 serves properly to hold the races of the bearing 133. The housing 130 is provided with a bottom flange 137 which is piloted over a shoulder 138 on the flange 128 or" the inner retaining sleeve 127. Also secured as by the welding indicated to the plate 131 and thus the bottom of the housing 27 is an internally splined tubular member 149, the splines of which mate with the external splines 141 on the drive shaft 125. Accordingly.

by unfastening the bolts 123, the rotary torque actuator can readily be removed by disengaging the splined drive shaft with the splined driven shaft and the unit can then readily be converted to manual operation.

The frame 88 is provided with a tubular split clamp 14-3 which slides over the tubular distal arm 77 of the jib 5 as shown more clearly in FIG. 5 and may be clamped firmly thereto by nut and bolt assemblies passing through facing flanges 144 thereon as indicated at 145. It can now be seen that the entire assembly can be quickly and easily assembled and disassembled facilitating repairs and installation. Even the motor 20 can readily be removed from the housing 27 by unfastening the bolts 31 and disengaging the flexible coupling 22 between the motor drive shaft 21 and the long driven shaft 16. With this construction, easy adjustment of the impeller head when first assembling the unit is obtainable and easy replacement of the motor or drive shaft and impeller head, when required, is also obtainable. The flexible coupling 22, of course, reduces wear, vibration, relieves strain, and acts to ensure motor safety in case of head damage. Thus the flexible coupling serves as a throwout clutch should the impeller somehow be stopped and this in turn precludes damage to the relatively large and expensive motor 20.

As seen in FIG. 6, the rotary torque converter 120 may be provided with fluid couplings indicated generally at 147 and the fluid lines leading to such couplings may pass through the tubular or hollow outer arm 77 of the jib 5 thus assuring a compact and neat assembly with no dangling fluid lines.

Pedestal pivot Referring now more particularly to FIG. 4, it will be seen that the top plate 150 of the pedestal 1 is provided with an opening 151 accommodating a downwardly projecting externally splined shaft 152 which is welded as indicated to tubular shaft 153 secured to top plate 154. Such top plate may be bolted as shown at 155 to flange 156 of the revolving sleeve 64 which supports the arms 80 and 81 of the parallelogram linkage of the jib 5. Such rotating sleeve may be necked as shown at 157 to accommodate such arms.

Bolts 160 extending through the top plate 150 and the flange 161 of the inner sleeve bearing retainer 162 may be employed firmly to hold such retainer to the top plate 150 of the pedestal 1. Tapered roller bearings 164 and 165 may be provided between the sleeve 162 fastened to the pedestal 1 and the sleeve 64 on which the jib 5 is mounted. Lock nuts 166 and 167 may be threaded on the retainer sleeve 162 properly to hold the bearing race 168 of the bearing 164 in place. Such bearings 164 and 165 may, for example, be Timken type T.S. tapered roller bearings. A sleeve member 169 may be fastened to the inner retainer 162 riding within an annular groove in the bottom of the sleeve 64 to protect the bearings from dust, dirt or the like.

A rotary torque actuator 170 similar to the torque actuator 120 may be mounted within the pedestal 1 on a suitable bracket 171 and such rotary torque actuator, as shown perhaps more clearly in FIG. 11, is also provided With a cylindrical chamber having a vane 72 therein mounted on a drive shaft 173 which projects outwardly of the cylindrical housing and may be externally splined as indicated at 174. The two externally splined shafts 152 and 173 then fit within coupling parts 175 and 176 respectively of coupling 177. Coupling 177 serves drivingly to interconnect the shafts 152 and 173 to impart the desired rotation to the sleeve 64 and thus the jib 5. Here, as in the case of the rotary torque actuator 120, the machine may readily be converted to a manual operation simply by removing any one of the following elements: shaft 152; the. coupling 177; or the rotary torque actuator 170.

Control console Referring now to FIGS. 7, 8 and 9, there is shown a compact and simplified control console from which the operator can easily swing the head of the machine. over any predetermined area at the desired height as determined by the piston rod 93 of the piston-cylinder assembly 90. Such control console, it will be understood, will be positioned remotely of the machine where the operator will have proper visual access to the work being done. The controls may, for example, be positioned on the head 8 and the operator then would, in effect, ride on top of the machine. However, in the illustrated embodiment, the control console may be mounted on the floor 2 adjacent the machine on legs 180 and 181 with the leg 181 being hollow and having an opening 132 in the support plate 183 thereon through which the control wiring may extend from the electrical controls to a terminal block or the like situated within the leg 181. The plate 183 is provided with a further opening 184 accommodating fluid or hydraulic lines 185 which extend through plate 186 into a mounting block 137 positioned within console housing 189. Such housing may be mounted on top of the block 107 and includes a top plate 190, side plates 191 and 192, and a front plate 193. A back plate 194 extends beyond the top plate and forms the back of an upstanding electrical housing shown generally at 195. An access opening 1% may be provided in the back of such electrical housing and a front mounting plate 197 is provided for a number of motor control push button switches as hereinafter described. The top of the electrical housing may be provided with a hood as shown at 193 in FIG. 9. A conduit 199 for the electrical wires may be provided extending from the opening 182 through the housing 189 and, of course, through the top plate 190 into the electrical housing 195.

As seen in FIG. 8, the mounting block 187 is provided with a plurality of hydraulic passageways shown generally at 200 leading to directional spool-type manually operated valves 201, 202 and 203 mounted thereon. The valves 202 and 203 may be spring centered, closed center, directional valves as shown in FIG. 11 and the valve 201 may be a spring centered, open center, valve as shown. The valve 201 is actuated by a control lever 205 projecting through an elongated slot 206 in the top plate 190 of the console housing. The lever 205 which has a ball handle 207 thereon may be employed simply to move the spool back and forth within the valve body. It will be understood that the slot 206 is elongated in a plane normal to the plane of FIG. 7. The valves 202 and 203 are, however, both actuated by a single lever 210 also provided with a top ball handle 211 which extends through an enlarged circular opening 212 in the top plate 190. Such opening is provided with a sleeve 213 which supports'a movable cover plate 214 through which the necked portion 215 of the lever 210 extends. The lever or joy stick 210 then serves to operate both valves 202 and 203.

As seen in FIG. 7, the lever 210 is provided with a reduced diameter shank portion 220 having a threaded end 221. Balls 222, 223 and 224 are strung or threaded "on such shank portion spaced by washers and secured against the shoulder 225 of the lever by nut 226 secured on the threaded end 221. The center ball 223 fits within a socket 230 situated in block 231 supported on brackets 232 and 233 by a support plate 234. The block 231 is thus rigidly secured to the valve block 187. Spherical anti-friction bushings may be provided in the socket of such block and a fitting 236 may be employed to supply lubricant to such bushing-ball connection. It is then apparent that the lever or joy stick 210 is supported for pivotal movement by the ball and socket joint thus afforded by the center ball 223 and the socket 230.

Mounted on top of the socket-block 231 is a spacer 240. Side members 241 and 242 on the spacer 240 support gibs 243 and 244 which overlie slide 245 having therein an elongated slot 246 accommodating the top ball 222. The valve actuating slide 245 is provided with an extension 240 having an opening 249 therein accommodating the balled end 250 of valve actuating pivot stick 251 which is effective to move the spool of valve 202 back and forth as the slide 245 is reciprocated in its confined path normal to the plane of FIG. 9. It is, however, apparent that if the stick 210 is moved in the same plane as FIG. 9 or normal to the plane of FIG. 7, the ball 222 will merely move back and forth in the elongated slot 246 and such movement will not actuate the valve 202.

Secured beneath the socket-block 231 is a spacer 254 having side members 255 and 256 supporting gibs 257 and 258 underlying slide 259 provided with elongated slot 260 accommodating the lowermost ball 224. As seen in FIG. 9, such slide is provided with extension 251 having a ball and socket joint 262 with the actuator stick for the spool of valve 203. It can thus be seen that if the lever 210 is moved in a plane normal to the plane of FIG. 9, the ball 224 will merely move back and forth in the elongated slot 260 and will fail to actuate valve 203. However, if the lever is pivoted in a plane normal to that of FIG. 7 or in the same plane as FIG. 9, such slide 259 will be caused to actuate valve 203. The slides 245 and 259 may be substantially identical in form and similarly the guides for such slides may be also substantially the same except that they are arranged to be actuated in planes normal to each other above and below the central pivot for the lever 210. It will now be seen that by pushing the lever 210 forward and backward, the directional valve 203 will be operated to apply oil through one side of the vane of the rotary torque actuator 170 thus to swing the jib in a swinging motion about pivot 69. Moving the lever or joy stick from right to left in FIG. 7 or normal to the plane of FIG. 9 will cause the ram arm to swing about the pivot 7 due to the actuation of valve 202 supplying oil pressure to one or the other side of the vane of the rotary torque actuator 120. It is also apparent that by moving the lever diagonally, it is possible to cause both rotary torque actuators to be energized at the same time and in this manner, the projector head 8 can be moved over any part of the floor within the limit of the swing of the two arms. Swinging movement of the projector head may be accomplished by the right hand of the operator and the left hand may control the lever 205 to raise and lower the head to the desired height.

Motor controls Referring now to FIG. 10, it will be seen that the various motors of the present invention may be energized from a suitable 220 volt, 60 cycle, 3 phase source of current indicated generally at 270. Disconnect switches 271 may be provided in such circuit which leads to the ram or projector motor through fuses 272. Since the motor 20 will preferably be a 2 speed, separate winding, constant torque motor providing, for example, H.P. at 1800 r.p.m. or 17 HP. at 1200 rpm, branch lines for the separate windings will be provided. Each line will be provided with an overload switch as indicated generally at 273 and each set of three lines leading to the separate windings will be provided with sets of motor control switch contacts as indicated at 274 and 275.

Branch lines indicated generally at 277 may also be provided leading to the pump motor 278 for the hydraulic system, and the conveyor motors 61 and 34. Fuses 279 may also be provided in such branch lines and sets of motor control switches 280 and 281 may be 53 provided for the pump motor 278 and both conveyor motors 51 and 34, respectively. Each of the lines leading to the various motors will, of course, be provided with the overload switches as shown.

A step-down transformer 283 may be employed to supply, for example, volts through fuses 284 and 285 to control mains 286 and 237, respectively. With additional reference to FIG. 7, it will be seen that an emergency stop push button 290 may be provided in series with the contacts 291 of start push button 292. The closing of such contacts 291 by the pushing of the button 292 energizes relay 293 to close switch contacts 280 to energize the hydraulic pump motor 278. Normally closed overload switches 294, 295, 296, 297 and 298 may be provided for each set of three overload switches 273 which function to open with the respective set of overload switches so that the relay 293 will be deenergized in the event of an overload. The relay 293 also closes holding switch contacts 299 bypassing the contacts 291 of the pump start button. A signal light 300 may be employed to indicate that the pump motor is running. The closing of contacts 299 prepares a circuit through line 302 for the selective energization of the particular windings of motor 20 and the motors 61 and 34. Push button switch 303 is provided normally closed to stop the ram motor 20 and, of course, the motors 61 and 34. The controls for the projector or ram drive comprise two relays 304 and 305 which are effective to open and close the sets of contacts 274 and 275, respectively, so that the motor 20 will be driven at 1200 r.p.m. or 1800 rpm, selectively. The relay 304 controlling contacts 274 to drive the motor 20 at 1200 rpm. is energized by the closing of contacts 306 of start 1200 rpm. push button 307. The relay 304 is then energized through the normally closed contacts 300 of the start pump switch 292, the closed contacts 306, the normally closed contacts 309 of start 1800 r.p.m. switch 310, and normally closed contacts 311 opened by energization of the relay 305. Energization of the relay 304 will close contacts 312 to energize lamp 313 to show the operator that the motor 20 is running at the selected 1200 rpm. The switch contacts 312 also serve as a means to energize a holding circuit bypassing the contacts 300 of the start switch 307. When the start switch 307 is depressed, the contacts 314 will be opened ensuring that the relay 305 will be deenergized and that the motor control contacts 275 will remain opened. When the operator desires to increase the speed of the ram, the push button switch 310 is then depressed closing contacts 315. Relay 305 will now be energized and the relay 304 will accordingly be deenergized to close contacts 275 and open contacts 274, respectively. Depression of the push button 210 automatically opens the contacts 309 to deenergize the relay 304 and this in turn will open contacts 312 deenergizing the lamp 313. The contacts 311 will also be opened by energization of the relay 305 as will the contacts 316 be opened by energization of the relay 304. Thus the contacts 311 and 316 energized by the respective relays 305 and 304 serve as interlocks to assure the energization of only one of the two relays operating the separate windings of the motor 20. Relay 305 serves to close contacts 317 to energize lamp 318 indicating that the motor 20 is now running at 1800 r.p.m.

Relay 304 also serves to close contacts 320 when energized and similarly relay 305 will close contacts 321, such contacts being in parallel so that when either of the contacts is closed, a circuit will be prepared leading to the relay 322 operating the contacts 281 controlling the operation of both the conveyor drive motors 61 and 34. A normally closed conveyor stop switch 323 is in series with the sand conveyor start switch 324 normally opened and both, of course, are in series with the operating relay 322. Relay 322 is then energized by depressing the button 324 and this in turn closes switch contacts 281 to energize both the motors 61 and 34.

The relay 322 also closes switch contacts 325 providing a holding circuit bypassing the start contacts 324 and, of course, energizing a lamp 326 indicating that the conveyor drive motors have been started.

The energization of the relay 322 also prepares circuits for the selective energization of conveyor drive speed adjusting motors 328 and 329 through control switches 330 and 331 Switch 330 is a three position selector switch which may be employed selectively to close the contacts 332 and 333. Switch 331 is a spring centered three positioned selector switch which may be employed selectively to close the four contacts shown to select a a slow or fast speed for the conveyor drive motors. It can now be seen that the operator will initially start the pump motor 278. The ram motor 20 will then be energized at the selected speed and either one of the interlock switches 320 and 321 will be closed permitting the conveyor drive motors now to be energized through therelay 322 to supply sand at the selected rate to the head. The higher or 1800 r.p.m. speed for the motor 20 may be employed for hard mold ramming around a pattern and the lower speed for general flask filling. The switch 303, of course, will deenergize the motors 20, 61 and 34 simultaneously so that sand will not be fed into a nonrotating projector.

Referring now to FIG. 11, it will be seen that the motor 278 is provided in a hydraulic power unit 340 and drives a dual pump unit shown generally at 34-1 through coupling 342. Such motor may, for example, be a HP. 1800 r.p.m. motor. 341 will draw fluid from reservoir 344 through strainer 345. Such pump may, for example, be a 12.1 gallon per minute pump supplying fluid at 1,000 p.s.i. to pump discharge line 346. Such line may lead directly to the valve 203 to be fed selectively through lines 347 or 3458 to the cylindrical chamber of the rotary torque actuator 170 on either side of the vane 172. Flow control valves 349 and 350 may be provided in such lines respectively and a bridge line 351 is provided with a needle valve 352. A relief valve 355, needle valve 356, and 01500 p.s.i. pressure gauge may also be provided in the discharge line 346 leading to the valve 203.

Discharge line 358 of the smaller capacity pump 341, e.g. 4.55 gallons per minute at 1000 p.s.i., is similarly provided with a relief valve, needle valve and pressure gauge as shown. Such discharge line 358 leads to the directional valve 202 controlling the rotary torque actuator 120v and discharge lines 359 and 360 supply hydraulic fluid to the opposite sides of the vane 124 through flow control valves 361 and 362, respectively. Bridge line 363 is provided with a needle valve 364. The needle valves The pump 343 of the unit 352 and 364 associated With the rotary torque actuators l 170 and 120, respectively, serve to dampen the swing of each arm, i.e., they reduce inertia effects of the swing arms and thus increase the accuracy of the operators aim in filling a particular flask.

The discharge line 358 of the pump 341 also leads to the directional valve 201, the outlet line 365 of which leads to the blind end of the piston-cylinder assembly 20 through a pilot operated check valve 366 of the pressure breaker type and also through a flow control valve 367. Hydraulic piston-cylinder assembly 16 may, for example, be a 5 inch cylinder with a 23 inch stroke and the rotary torque actuator 170 may provide 280 of rotation with 608 cubic inches while the rotary torque actuator 120 provides similarly 280 of rotation with 253 cubic inches.

Operation Recapitulating the above disclosure, with the main electric power to' the machine turned on through the selector switch 271, the operator may press the start pump button 232 at the console and this starts the hydraulic power pump unit by energizing the motor 273 driving the 10 pump unit 34-1. The signal light 300 will signify to the operator that the pump motor is running.

With the pump motor running, the operator may then properly position the head 8 over the particular flask or flasks desired to be filled with sand and the operator will then first start the motor 20 at the selected speed to rotate the projector blade 9 by pushing either button 307 or 310. With the blade 9 rotating, the conveyor motors will then simultaneously be energized at the selected speed by the button 324 to feed sand to the projector or ram head 3. The blade then takes this sand fed thereto by the conveyor belt 44, accelerates it to a very high velocity and discharges it downwardly onto a pattern within a flask and with suchforce as completely to ram the mold by this action as well as properly to fill the flask. With the sand being properly fed to and discharged from the machine, the operator then controls the position of the head 3 and thus the discharge opening 0 by moving the levers 205 and 210, the latter being employed to shift horizontally the head in any desired direction within the reach of the arm. Movement of the lever 210 in one direction will move only one valve and in the direction normal thereto only the other valve and in directions diagonal to such aforesaid directions, the spools of both valves will be moved properly horizontally to shift the head as desired. The lever 205 will be employed to elevate and lower the head to the desired height depending upon the particular flasks and their arrangement.

The two needle valves associated with the respective rotary torque actuators serve to dampen the swing of each arm which produces considerable inertia due to the relatively large mass involved. It is also noted that the coupling shown in FIG. 4 which exists between the jib 5 and the rotary torque actuator 170 also reduces play and permits a slight overtravel of the jib.

Both the rotary torque actuators and may readily be removed by the splined connections shown. Also the flexible coupling 22 between the motor 20 and the head 8 facilitates assembly and disassembly for repair or servicing and, of course, provides a safety throw-out feature. This coupling also enables easy removal of the impeller shaft, impeller head and projection blade 9. With the set screw connection shown in FIG. 2, the head can readily be removed and replaced with another head and thus an inventory of heads may be provided reducing the down time required for changing or servicing heads, since it will be realized the head is the one part of the machine most subject to wear and hard service.

It can now be seen that there is provided a sand throwing machine of a simplified design which can easily be controlled from a remote console properly to position the head over the desired flask and pattern properly to ram the sand therein.

Other modes of applying the principle of the invention may be employed, change being made as regards the details described, provided the features stated .in any of the following claims or the equivalent of such be employed.

We claim:

1. A machine comprising a pedestal, a first arm mounted on said pedestal for swinging movement in a substantially horizontal plane, a second arm pivoted to the distal end of said first arm for swinging movement in a substantially horizontal plane, a sand projector head mounted at the distal end of said second arm, means to drive said head and means to feed sand to said head to be projected downwardly into a flask or the like, a rotary torque actuator mounted at the distal end of said first arm and including an upwardly projecting splined drive shaft, bearing means mounted on the distal end of said first arm supporting said second arm for such horizontal swinging movement, said second arm including a downwardly projecting splined shaft releasably slidably engaged with said splineddrive shaft of said rotary torque actuator whereby said actuator will be efiective to swing said second arm in such horizontal plane.

2. The machine as set forth in claim 1 including means releasably holding said rotary torque actuator to the distal end of said first arm whereby said rotary torque actuator and said splined drive shaft may be removed.

3. A machine as set forth in claim 1 including a rotary torque actuator mounted in said pedestal having an upwardly directed splined drive shaft, bearing means supporting said first arm for such horizontal swinging movement on said pedestal, said first arm including a splined driven shaft projecting downwardly through said bearing means and rcleasably engaged with the splined drive shaft of the rotary torque actuator mounted in said pedestal whereby said first arm may be swung in such horizontal plane.

4. A sand throwing machine comprising a pedestal, a first arm pivotally mounted on said pedestal for swinging movement, a second arm mounted on the distal end of said first arm for swinging movement, a sand projecting head at the distal end of said second arm comprising a rotary impeller adapted to receive sand and project such sand into a flask or the like, first motor means to swing said first arm, second motor means to swing said second arm, first control valve means for said first motor means, second control valve means for said second motor means, a universally pivotally mounted control lever for said first and second valve means, first link means connecting said first valve means directly to said control lever, and second link means connecting said second valve means directly to said control lever whereby either said valve means alone or both together may be operated by said control lever thus to swing said first and second arms.

5. A machine as set forth in claim 4 including a ball and socket mounting for said control lever, said first and second link means being pivotally connected to said control lever respectively above and below said ball and socket mounting.

6. A machine as set forth in claim 5 including guide means for said first and second link means confining said link means for movement in directions normal to each other.

'7. A sand throwing machine comprising a pedestal, a first arm mounted for swinging movement on said pedestal, a second arm mounted for swinging movement on the distal end of said first arm, a sand projector at the distal end of said second arm adapted to project sand downwardly into a flask or the like, first control means for swinging said first arm, second control means for swinging said second arm, lever means for actuating said control means, and respective link means interconnecting said first and second control means directly with said lever means to actuate said control means individually or simultaneously by movement of said lever means.

8. A machine as set forth in claim 7 including a ball and socket mounting for said lever means, said link means for the respective control means being connected to said lever means on opposite sides of said ball and socket mounting, respectively.

9. A sand throwing machine comprising a horizontally swingably mounted first arm and a horizontally swingably mounted second arm on the distal end of said first arm, first and second motor means for horizontally swinging said arms, a sand projecting head on the distal end of said second arm adapted to receive sand and project the same downwardly into a flask or the like; a control console for said machine, respective valve means for said first and second motor means mounted in said control console, a valve operating lever projecting through the top of said console, ball and socket means mounting said lever within said console, respective link means interconnecting the respective valve means and said lever pivotally connected to said lever above and below said ball and socket means respectively, means confining said respective link means for movement in directions normal to each other whereby said lever will actuate both valve means simultaneously or either individually.

10. A machine as set forth in claim 9 including first motor means to drive said head, conveyor means to feed sand to said head, second motor means to drive said conveyor means, means responsive to the energization of said first motor means to prepare a circuit to said second motor means ensuring the energization of said second motor means after said first motor means.

11. A machine as set forth in claim 10 including a control board projecting upwardly from said console at the rear thereof, selectively operable switch means on said board effective to energize said first motor at different speeds, and switch means on said board effective to energize said second motor means after energization of said first motor means at either selected speed.

12. A machine as set forth in claim 9 including motor means to raise and lower said first arm, valve means in said console effective to control said motor means, and lever means projecting from said console etfective to operate said valve means to raise and lower said first arm.

13. A sand throwing machine comprising a pedestal, a first arm pivotally mounted on said pedestal for swinging movement, a second arm mounted on the distal end of said first arm for swinging movement, a sand projecting head at the distal end of said second arm comprising a rotary impeller adapted to receive sand and project such sand into a flask or the like, first motor means to swing said first arm, second motor means to swing said second arm, first control valve means for said first motor means, second control valve means for said second motor means, a universal pivotally mounted control lever for said first and second valve means, first link means connecting said first valve means to said control lever, second link means connecting said second valve means to said control lever whereby either said valve means alone or both together may be operated by said control lever thus to swing said first and second arms, a ball and socket mounting for said control lever, said first and second link means being pivotally connected to said control lever, said first and second link means being pivotally connectcd to said control lever respectively above and below said ball and socket mounting, guide means for said first and second link means confining said link means for movement in directions normal to each other, and elongated slots in said link means through which said control lever extends, said slots extending normal to each other and normal to the confined direction of travel of the respective link means.

14. A machine as set forth in claim 13 including ball means on said control lever riding within said slots.

15. A sand throwing machine comprising a pedestal, a first arm mounted for swinging movement on said pedestal, a second arm mounted for swinging movement on the distal end of said first arm, a sand projector at the distal end of said second arm adapted to project sand downwardly into a flask or the like, first control means for swinging said first arm, second control means for swinging said second arm, lever means for actuating said control means, respective link means interconnecting said first and second control means with said lever means to actuate said control means individually or simultaneously by movement of said lever means, a ball and socket mounting for said lever means, said link means for the respective control means being connected to said lever means on opposite sides of said ball and socket mounting, respectively, guide means for said link means confining said link means for movement in directions normal to each other, and lost motion connecting means between said respective link means and said lever means whereby movement of said lever means in planes normal to each other will be effective fully to move one said control means while not moving the other and vice versa.

(References on following page) Refierences Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS Beardsley et a1. 2236 Furman 22-36 5 Clay et a1. 22-36 Clay et a1. 2'2-36 Duncan 22-36 1 4 2,691,194 10/54 Koren 2236 2,752,647 7/56 Beech 22-36 FOREIGN PATENTS 570,641 7/45 Great Britain. 698,878 10/ 5 3 Great Britain.

-MICHAEL V. BRINDISI, Primary Examiner.

MARCUS U. LYONS, Examiner. 

1. A MACHINE COMPRISING A PEDESTAL, A FIRST ARM MOUNTED ON SAID PEDESTAL FOR SWINGING MOVEMENT IN A SUBSTANTIALLY HORIZONTAL PLANE, A SECOND ARM PIVOTED TO THE DISTAL END OF SAID FIRST ARM FOR SWINGING MOVEMENT IN A SUBSTANTIALLY HORIZONTAL PLANE, A SAND PROJECTOR HEAD MOUNTED AT THE DISTAL END OF SAID SECOND ARM, MEANS TO DRIVE SAID HEAD AND MEANS TO FEED SAJND TO SAID HEAD TO BE PROJECTED DOWNWARDLY INTO A FLASK OR THE LIKE, A ROTARY TORQUE ACTUATOR MOUNTED AT THE DISTAL END OF SAID FIRST ARM AND INCLUDING AN UPWARDLY PROJECTING SPLINED DRIVE SHAFT, BEARING MEANS MOUNTED ON THE DISTAL END OF SAID FIRST ARM SUPPORTING SAID SECOND ARM FOR SUCH HORIZONTAL SWINGING MOVEMENT, SAID SECOND ARM INCLUDING A DOWNWARDLY PROJECTING SPLINED SHAFT RELEASABLY SLIDABLY ENGAGED WITH SAID 